Olive Garden Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Salina

The restaurant didn't seem that busy, at least, in our section. There were 4 in our party. The waitress was very friendly and knowledge. We ordered appetizers along with our drinks. The waitress asked if we wanted to try the dipping sauces for the bread sticks, it was an extra charge so we declined. So the waitress went to go put in the appetizer order, get our drinks and bread sticks. In the meantime we changed our mind on the sauces. She brought the beverages and sticks right away. she took our main course order, We apologized and asked if we could get the stick dipping sauces after all. and started devouring the yummy bread sticks. After a while she brought out our salad, appetizer and the dipping sauces. The sticks were long gone so we asked for more. After a little longer while than last the time she brought another basket of them. Then went back to the kitchen and immediately brought our main course meals. Asked if things look good, and they did, so she left us to enjoy. It didn't take us long to realize we all only had 1 bread stick each to try the sauces(which were now cold) and for our meal. But figured the waitress would be back shortly to check if things were good. Well, if she was giving us privacy she was doing a great job. When she did come back she had drink refills for us all, and asked if we needed boxes. I did, and asked for a couple bread sticks to take home as well. Two of our party had the endless pasta bowls which had been empty for some time. They would've most definitely got another dish, before having to wait while the pasta did it's work in their tummy... so They just asked for a serving to take home. She noticed the dipping sauces were hardly touched and asked if we liked them. Then you could see her putting it all together. We didn't try very much of the sauces because we didn't have any thing to dip. And haven't since she brought the meal and left. What I had was great, shrimp Alfredo, besides only having half a bread stick to enjoy with it. 3 bites of the stick were wasted on the dipping sauces. Lol for everyone's information one sauce was too salty, one sauce was too greasy,, and the last one must've just been the other two mixed together, salty and greasy. Lol We didn't complain, and still left a very nice tip. That's just who we are. Maybe her not being able to check on usn often was out of her control? I know when I'm slow at work, my boss always finds me some "good" jobs...

I usually don’t write reviews because I have worked in the restaurant industry for years, so I feel like I have a good understanding of what it’s like to be a server and work in the industry.

However, I went to this establishment with my niece and daughter after a long day of volleyball. We were hungry and excited to eat Olive Garden because we were craving it. We were seated once we walked into the restaurant like normal and the host told us our server would be right over. We waited a good 10-15 minutes for someone to come and greet our table but no one ever did. I had to get up and ask the multiple people standing at the host stand if someone was going to come take care of us and they all just kind of looked at me like huh. A nice gentleman who was standing at the host stand quickly came over and took our drink order and said he would find out who our server was. Not long after our server arrived, stating that she didn’t know we were in her section. Hey I get it, like I said I’ve worked in the industry and things are not always communicated so no big deal.

However, following the initial interaction the service turned from bad to horrible. We to ask for more bread 3 times, table was not pre-bussed (I even stacked the plates to make it easier for her to carry 🤦🏽‍♀️), our server was seen multiple times just standing around the host stand while we had no water in all 3 of our cups (again glasses were empty when food was dropped off and we had to ask for more water 3 times even to enjoy our meal). Server never came to check on us to see if food was tasting okay. She just came when she must have noticed me messing with the thing on the table to pay. When we left the establishment none of the multiple employees even bothered to say “have a good night” or “thanks for coming in”.

Overall we regretted our decision to come to this establishment today because of the lack of customer service within the establishment. For me customer service should be held to a high standard and it simply was not today. Like I said I am very understanding of the service industry but today Olive Garden...

I'm going to give this place 4 stars because I really like it, usually. Today there was so much wrong with our server that we couldn't help but find it more comical and amusing than upsetting. First, those little coasters, he threw those on the table like tiny Frisbees. No biggie as I could see he was uncomfortable with us positioning a baby and all the paraphernalia that accompanies a small human. Once we were all situated, he came back with our straws. He tossed those down like we were at a Dick's restaurant (you know the ones where they're rude on purpose) I had to restrain my outspoken self to not ask him did those straws offend you sir? We ordered, no offense there... But when the food came out that salad hit the table with a thunk you could've heard restaurant-wide if the cackling old ladies behind us weren't so wine happy. He asked if we wanted cheese and I was so dumbfounded by the tilt-a-whirl salad bowl that he literally emptied his cheese grater while I sat there stymied. Oh! Wait! Almost forgot the best part! My salad plate he sat down had food on it, he attempted to wipe it off while he was placing it on the table. Ummm, he touched it...not the rim, the bowl part I eat out of... no way I'm eating off it.... He said, "it's just the breadsticks falling off onto the plate that or the croutons, I swear. It's not old food although we have been having a problem with that lately" I think I said something like well I think maybe I could get a new plate anyways? Oh gosh please don't lick my plate... Normally I'm a good patron who just wants soup, salad, and breadsticks. I just don't know if serving is his calling. Good...